LiturgyTools.net: Hymns for Christmas Mass during the day, Years A, B and C

A selection of hymns and songs, based on themes from the Roman Catholic lectionary for Christmas Mass during the day.

Most are free-to-use (ie public domain or copyright-free) means the words can be copied and sung to at least one tune with no concerns about copyright or performance licensing. Many such hymns are old/traditional - but where possible a variety of styles / genres are included. A small selection of hymns which are still copyright may be included if they are particularly relevant.

Suggestions about other suitable hymns are welcome: leave a message in the Comments box near the bottom of the page.

Seasonal Note

Most communities have a familiar repertoire of public domain Christmas music. The list below only has carols that are a particularly good fit with the lectionary themes for this day and time.

The readings for Midnight Mass and also the Christmas Dawn Mass focus on the nativity story, while the readings for this day-time Mass focus of Jesus the Word-made-flesh. Because of this, the suggestions here have only a few carols - but of course others can be chosen for their fit with the season.

Readings

First: Isaiah 52: 7-10 - How lovely on the mountains are the feet of one who brings good news ... all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of God.

Psalm: Psalm 97 - All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God / Sing a new song to the Lord / The Lord has made known his salvation / Sing psalms to the Lord with the harp

Second: Hebrews 1: 1-6 - previously God spoke to our ancestors through the prophet - now eh speaks to us through his Son ... the radiant light of God's glory.

Gospel: John: 1: 1-18 - In the beginning was the Word .. A man came, sent by God as a witness - John. The Word was the true light ...